Rafael Farina

Rafael Antonio Salazar Motos (2 June 1923 - 21 November 1995), commonly known as Rafael Farina (Rafael Salazar for his composing work), was a singer of Copla and Flamenco. His granddaughter is the pop-singer Tamara and his nephew is the singer Diego el Cigala.

Biography Farina was born in Martinamor, into a Romani family, his father, Antonio Salazar Motos, was a cattle dealer, in Alba de Tormes, Martinamor; his mother was Jesusa Motos. He began his career at the age of six singing in the bars of Barrio Chino in Salamanca, accompanied by his older brother, Rafael Salazar Motos, Calderas de Salamanca, also a singer. In 1949 he obtained some fame participating in a tribute to Juanito Mojama. Previously, he had performed at El Colmao. After joining the company of Concha Piquer, he was able to go on tour throughout Spain and America. In 1952 he participated in the revival of the play "La copla andaluza" at the Pavón Theater in Madrid. In 1956 he managed to premiere his own show and in 1968 he worked with Lola Flores at Arte Español.

Acting career

Farina starred in six Spanish and one Argentinian film:

Café cantante (1951) with Imperio Argentina Aventura para dos (1958), with Carmen Sevilla La copla andaluza (1959) Café de chinitas (1960), with Antonio Molina Puente de coplas (1965), also with Antonio Molina El milagro del cante (1967), with El Príncipe Gitano, Luis Sánchez Polack Canciones de nuestra vida (1975)

Discography

Some of the best known songs popularized by Rafael Farina include:

Death Rafael Farina died in Madrid on November 21, 1995, at the age of 72, after undergoing an open heart surgery at the Nuestra Señora de América Clinic in Madrid.